At LETTER FOUR it has been our long term goal to create a project that is designed as a development venture or as a pre-designed home for prospective clients. We’ve also wanted to give our team the opportunity to let their creative juices flow and work together to design something that is true to the LETTER FOUR brand. The pandemic has given us the opportunity to take the time to achieve this goal. We chose to call this project our “Case Study” to reference the mid-century Case Study Houses which were commissioned beginning in the late 1940’s as residential architectural experiments sponsored by Arts & Architecture magazine. Our goal was to create beautiful, intelligently designed homes to increase density and address the housing shortage here in the Los Angeles area. The main living areas form an L-shape which wraps around the pool and outdoor dining patio, a smaller sitting area, and a firepit entertainment area. Here we’ve opened up the floor plan to the exterior through sliding glass doors that virtually disappear. The living room includes a double height space with a wood wall to draw the eye up. The use of natural wood is continued on the interior and is joined by terrazzo floors, Nero Marquina counters, and a slatted stair feature. This home is made for entertaining! As another nod to the mid-century Case Studies we’ve used ribbed wood ceilings throughout the home to tie together the interior and exterior and provide warmth. We have also included clerestory windows and skylights for natural light and privacy. The second floor includes a primary suite and two secondary bedrooms which share a bathroom. This brings the main home to a total of four bedrooms and three bathrooms with the inclusion of the office/guest bedroom downstairs. At the front of the property, above the garage, is the ADU (Additional Dwelling Unit). ADU’s have been popular throughout California since the passage of bills AB-881 and AB-68. These allow owners of property that is zoned as single family to build up to three units. In a market like that of the Los Angeles area new laws allowing ADU’s have successfully addressed the housing shortage and have helped to create affordable housing. Our Case Study includes a one bedroom, one bathroom ADU with a private roof-top patio and private entrance. This could be rented out as an income property or used as a home office or studio.